Colts/Lions Preseason Game Three Breakdown

Sorry for the tardiness with this post, but we've been plagued by an addiction to Madden '08 on the 360 we finally broke down and purchased this past weekend. Confession time: we've been using the Colts a lot, and it's tough to win with them against other real players. Addai doesn't have the strength to run up the middle and everyone uses outside contain defenses to negate the vaunted stretch play. Thus, we are forced to pass. And anyone who knows anything about the new Madden knows the new defensive playmaker option makes it near impossible to go an entire game without throwing a couple picks. Anyway, onto the game.

We sat down Saturday night after a long day of late-summer cleaning, Heineken Light in hand, ready to watch the Colts impress against a shitty NFC team (a shitty NFC team, mind you, we've maintained could reach .500 this season). Perhaps we set our goals a bit low. Let's just say we were more than satisfied with the outcome. Here's what we learned:

1.) Anthony Gonzalez - fumble and all - is going to be a big factor in the passing game
- We know, our receivers simply CAN'T fumble the ball, but we're willing to forgive that small transgression. Why? Because Gonzo drew a key pass interference penalty and made a sensational catch in traffic to set up the Colts final score of the first half.

2.) Peyton Manning may throw 40 TDs this season
- Everyone thinks 2004 was an aberration. Not so. This season, with Harrison, Wayne, Gonzalez, Clark and Addai all chipping in, Manning should clear the 40 mark easily.

3.) Freddy Keiaho, the biggest impact player no one knows about
- Colts Nation knows Keaiho, of course, but few outside that realm realize how special a player he has the potential to be. He's a playmaker, pure and simple.

4.) Calvin Johnson does not like to be hit, thank you very much
- For those of you who have yet to draft your fantasy team, be wary of the number two overall pick. He's a specimen, no doubt, but two or three strong hits from the Colts secondary left him with the Reche Caldwell look. He'll learn to take those hits, but not overnight.

5.) Joseph Addai should be good for 60+ catches in 2007
- Those 10 catches in the Super Bowl were not a fluke. Expect Addai to resemble LT circa 2003 this season. Yes, we realize what that means.

6.) Bob Sanders didn't make a tackle. So what?
- To be honest, we're glad he didn't have much contact. He got a taste of game speed and what to expect week one against New Orleans. That's just fine with us.

7.) Ryan Diem, we're watching you
- Yes, there were a few negatives in the Colts 37-10 blowout win. Diem, the veteran RT, whiffed badly on two blocks in the first half, resulting in a sack and a tackle for loss, respectively. We have a rookie starting on the left side, we can't have issues on the other side, too.

8.) Marlin Jackson continues to impress
- He's a Pro Bowler at the halfway point of our season on Madden. Wouldn't be a stretch to see it happen in real life this season. Yes, we mean that.

9.) Sep. 6 can't get here fast enough
- Nine days and counting. Does anyone else feel like it's taking forever?

10.) The Colts defense is not to be messed with
- Call us optimists, but we think this is going to be a top-15 unit by December. There's a rather large chip that resides a couple feet from the neck of the Colts defense, and the longer it stays there, the better.